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[Illustration: "Don't shoot gents!" called out the man who was in the crotch of an oak tree. Page 59. ]

THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN MEXICO

BY LIEUT. HOWARD PAYSON

AUTHOR OF "The Boy Scouts of the Eagle Patrol," "The Boy Scouts on the Range," "The Boy Scouts' Mountain Camp," "The Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam," "The Boy Scouts at the Panama Canal," "The Boy Scouts with the Allies in France," "The Boy Scouts on Belgian Battlefields," "The Boy Scouts at the Panama Pacific Exposition," etc.

[Illustration]

A. L. BURT COMPANY

Publishers New York

Printed in U. S. A.

Copyright, 1914,

BY HURST & COMPANY

MADE IN U. S.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. SCOUTS AFLOAT 5

II. THE STRANGE LEAK 15

III. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD 26

IV. WHEN SCOUTCRAFT WAS IN DEMAND 37

V. ON THE TRAIL 48

VI. THE EAGLES LEAD THE WAY TO SUCCESS 59

VII. TUBBY REFUSES TO FORGET 70

VIII. A DAZZLING PLAN 81

IX. FIGURING IT ALL OUT 92

X. HOW THE LAND LAY 103

XI. "THEY'RE OFF!" 114

XII. ALONG THE RIO GRANDE 125

XIII. CROSSING THE FORD 136

XIV. A GALLOP ON MEXICAN SOIL 146

XV. ANDY SCATTERS THE SERENADERS 157

XVI. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY 168

XVII. THE WHISTLE OF PASSING BULLETS 179

XVIII. AT THE BURNING BRIDGE 190

XIX. THE WIGWAG TALK 201

XX. "TRUST ROB!" 212

XXI. THE RETURN OF THE SCOUT MASTER 223

XXII. THE FIELD HOSPITAL IN OPERATION 234

XXIII. WHEN VILLA CAME 245

XXIV. A MAN OF HIS WORD 256

XXV. AGAIN UNDER THE FOLDS OF "OLD GLORY" 267

XXVI. ON TO WASHINGTON! 278

XXVII. TUBBY SOLVES THE MYSTERY 298

THE BOY SCOUTS UNDER FIRE IN MEXICO.

CHAPTER I.

FOUR SCOUTS AFLOAT.

"Luff a little, Merritt!"

"Luff it is, Rob. And let me tell you right now that if this head wind keeps on growing stronger, we're going to have it nip and tuck to get home before dark sets in. These November, days have a quick end, you know. Steady now, everybody; we'll have to come about."

"On the next leg, Merritt, run in as close to the shore as you can," continued the boy who was handling the sheet of the sailboat, and who seemed to be in command, though he had given up his place at the helm to a comrade.

"Just what I'll do, Skipper Rob. Here, Andy, and you, Tubby, swing over to the la'board in a hurry, now, and help hold her down. You're the best ballast we've got aboard, Tubby."

The stout boy who seemed so well named, for he was built on the order of a tub of butter, hastened to change his position as the boom of the sailboat swung over, and the little craft with a jump started on a new tack, this time heading for the mainland.

"Say, you want to make sure and clear that point over there!" he sang out as he sprawled along the upper port side of the craft like a great crab, owing to a sudden lurch of the boat.

"Going to do it as easy as to turn your hand over," replied the boy at the rudder; "but what makes you say that, Tubby?"

"Oh! I reckon now there might be some fellers got a duck blind on that point, which is said to be the best along the bay," replied the other... Continue reading book >>